Congressman Faces Right Over Species Act

[Judi Lynn]

Congressman Faces Right Over Species Act
By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer

Saturday, March 25, 2006
(03-25) 09:53 PST Tracy, Calif. (AP) --

Rep. Richard Pombo has never gotten over being outfoxed by the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. The rancher and chairman of the House Resources Committee is closer than ever to his goal of rewriting the Endangered Species Act to expand property rights — his mission ever since the obscure fox species blocked development of a neighboring town 25 years ago.

The prospect of long-fought success has made Pombo a target in the November election. The conservative Republican has abandoned the cowboy hat in his official congressional photo and is looking a little more worldly as he confronts a changing electorate in his district.

Seeking his 12th term, Pombo, 45, faces a primary challenge on June 6 from a moderate Republican who helped write the landmark species protections. Democrats see a glimmer of hope of capturing the seat; environmentalists say his defeat would be the best thing that could happen in November.

On top of all that, Pombo is facing ethical questions arising from his ties with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his own unconventional financial arrangements.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/03/25/politics/p095335S99.DTL



Pombo!

[tsuki]

1. I hope Pete McCloskey cleans his primary clock. n/t

[tularetom]

2. This guy is the slimiest, oiliest, creepiest and

generally despicable member of congress with the possible exception of tom delay. He's from the district right next to ours so I read about him all the time in the paper. He's been getting reelected on this anti environmental bullshit for years with support from a lot of the necks in the district, but his district now includes the outer reaches of the east bay suburbs and the new voters ain't particularly impressed with the fake cowboy bullshit. He's funded up the wazoo by the big resource extraction folks (timber, mining. petroleum) but he has challengers both in the primary and in the general election if he gets by McCluskey.

On edit: The evolution of the jowls and extra chins in the series of pictures is a nice touch.

[acmejack]

3. Those my good man are "wattles"

wat·tle (wŏt'l) n. "A fleshy, wrinkled, often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat, characteristic of certain birds, such as chickens or turkeys, and some lizards."

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright
http://opera.answers.com/Wattles